DLMRA

10/19/2026

🎣🐟 Food Truck Tuesday Youth Fishing Event – A HUGE Success! 🌿☀️

What a fantastic evening at our DLMRA Youth Fishing Event! We had over 20 kids registered, caught some fish, enjoyed great food from the food trucks, and had a whole lot of fun along the way! 🐟🙌

Fishing was just the beginning! The kids also enjoyed:
🪶 Making DIY suet cake rolls for the birds
🎨 Fishing-themed coloring activities
🔎 An outdoor scavenger hunt
🌱 Planting native seeds
🎣 A bucket full of pretend fish and toy fishing poles for our littlest anglers who weren't quite ready for the real thing!

We love seeing kids get outside, try new things, learn about nature, and make memories together. ❤️ Events like this wouldn't be possible without an amazing community!

A BIG THANK YOU to:
👏 Brodhead Chamber of Commerce
🎣 Brodhead Memorial Public Library, Albany, and Monticello Libraries for lending us fishing poles
🪱 Old Powerhouse Bait Shop for providing the bait
💚 All of our wonderful volunteers
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All the parents, adults, and kids who came out to join us!

Your support helped make this event such a great success. We are so grateful to be part of a community that shows up for its kids and the outdoors!

Thanks for making Food Truck Tuesday extra special! We can't wait to do it again! 🌊🎣

10/16/2026

🌊 Healthy Lakes & Rivers Grant Update! 🌱

A big THANK YOU to everyone who joined DLMRA for our Healthy Lakes & Rivers Grant site visits last Saturday! It was wonderful meeting some new neighbors, connecting with local property owners, and talking about opportunities to improve our shorelines and protect our local waterways. 💙

Shoreland property owners may qualify for up to $1,000 from the DNR for projects that improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Eligible practices include native shoreline plantings, rain gardens, water diversion, rock infiltration, and fish sticks.

We’re excited to see interest growing in these projects! DLMRA is also planning to install fascines at Decatur Park and Dam on Decatur Park Road to help stabilize soil and prevent erosion. 🌿

🏡 Interested in improving your shoreline? If you’re a shoreland property owner and would like to learn more about the grant opportunities or potential projects for your property, please reach out to Ruth at 815-985-4223.

Thank you again to everyone who attended and to all those working together to keep our lakes, rivers, and shorelines healthy for generations to come! 💚🌊

10/14/2026

🎣🐟 A Great Day of Fishing, Learning & Fun! 🌱

DLMRA was excited to join the Brodhead Memorial Public Library monthly homeschool event for a fun-filled fishing morning at Optimist Pond! We had over 20 kids participate in a day full of outdoor activities, creativity, and learning. ❤️

The kids enjoyed knot tying, making homemade suet cake rolls, coloring, planting native seeds in little cups, magnet fishing and of course...reel (pun intended) fishing! Our youngest anglers even got to practice with toy fishing poles until they’re ready for the real thing. 🎣🌼

A BIG thank-you to everyone who helped make this event possible!
💚 Brodhead Optimist Club for letting us use the pond — a wonderful spot for catch-and-release fishing!
🌿 City of Brodhead, Wisconsin for keeping the grounds mowed and maintained.
📚 Brodhead Memorial Public Library for organizing these wonderful opportunities for homeschool families.
🪱 Old Powerhouse Bait Shop for always having great bait in stock.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All the kids and parents who came out and participated!

We love seeing kids get outside, learn about nature, and discover the fun of fishing and enjoying our local outdoor spaces. Thanks for spending the day with us! 🐟🌳

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

🎣 FISHING FUN AT FOOD TRUCK TUESDAY! 🌮🍔

Join us at Putnam Park in Brodhead for an afternoon of fishing, food & fun! 🎣

📅 Tuesday, October 13th
⏰ Fishing Event: 3:30–5:30 PM
🍕 Food Trucks: 3:00–8:00 PM

Bring the kids and let them try their hand at fishing! We’ll provide the poles, tackle & bait — just bring your fishing buddy and get ready to have some fun! 🐟

👨‍👩‍👧 Guardian must be present and a signed waiver is required for participating kids.

💰 We’ll also have a 50/50 CASH RAFFLE!
🎟️ Need not be present to win!

Come grab some great food from the food trucks, enjoy the park, and spend a little time fishing with us! 🌳🎣

We’ll see you at Putnam Park!
— Decatur Lake Mill Race Association

Send a message to learn more

10/09/2026

🦗 Nature Spotlight: Praying Mantis! 🌿

Keep an eye out for these fascinating little hunters around the lake! Praying mantises are excellent predators that help control insect populations by feeding on flies, moths, grasshoppers, and other bugs. Their camouflage makes them easy to miss—but once you spot one, they’re hard not to admire! 💚🌱

10/07/2026

🌊 Healthy Lakes & Rivers Grant Site Visits – October 10

Shoreland property owners may qualify for up to $1,000 from the DNR for projects that improve water quality and habitat. Eligible practices include native shoreline plantings, rain gardens, water diversion, rock infiltration and fish sticks.

Three local homeowners are preparing projects—two native plantings and one rain garden. DLMRA is also planning to install fascines at Decatur Park and Dam on Decatur Park Road to help stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Join DLMRA for site visits on October 10 at 10 AM (10/10 at 10!).

📍 Meet at W1063 Cottage Road, Brodhead. Two additional sites at W1073 Cottage Road and 703 3rd Ave will be available for guided viewing. Visit one or all three! Signs will direct you to the first site.

📞 Questions? Call Ruth at 815-985-4223.

Send a message to learn more

10/05/2026

Our Fall newsletter is now available! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LpByOS8qFviEg_7_4-X465r-EfaXhRy9/view?usp=drive_link

10/02/2026

🪿 HONK if you love Wisconsin wildlife! 🪿

Whether they're flying overhead in their famous V-formation or paddling around our local waterways, Canada geese are a familiar sight here in Wisconsin! 🌊

Did you know they take turns leading the flock during long flights? Even geese know teamwork makes the dream work! 💚

Next time you're near Decatur Lake or the Mill Race, keep an eye out for these feathered neighbors!

09/30/2026

🐟 Fish Stocking at Headgates & Putnam Park! 🐟

Another successful fish stocking! We added 420 walleye at Headgates and 10 northern pike + 75 walleye at Putnam Park! 🎣

Our four-legged helpers were on site supervising, and they gave the stocking their paws-up approval! 🐾

A huge THANK YOU to Gollon Bait & Fish Farm for providing the fish and to everyone who has donated to help keep our river and lake stocked for years to come. Your support makes a difference! 💚

Interested in sponsoring a fish species for 2027? Reach out to DLMRA! 🐟